Debates set in Lehigh Valley congressional races

The Morning Call, PBS39 to present face-offs for candidates in 15th, 17th districts.

September 12, 2012|By Peter Hall, Of The Morning Call

Live televised debates between candidates in both of the Lehigh Valley's congressional districts are set for mid-October.

The Morning Call, PBS39 and partners will air a debate between incumbent Republican Charlie Dent, who is running for re-election in the 15th Congressional District, and Democratic challenger Rick Daugherty at 8 p.m. Oct. 16.

A debate between the 17th District candidates, Republican Laureen Cummings and Democrat Matthew Cartwright, will be broadcast at 8 p.m. Oct. 17.

Both events will be held before an audience in the PBS39 studios at SteelStacks in Bethlehem and televised live, providing a forum for voters to hear from candidates in the Lehigh Valley's two congressional districts.

The 15th District covers most of the Lehigh Valley, while the 17th District, starting next year, will include Easton and northern parts of Northampton County.

"This will be the center stage opportunity for the Lehigh Valley's congressional candidates to speak to a cross-section of the community," said David M. Erdman, editor and vice president of The Morning Call.

PBS39 station manager Amy Burkett will moderate the debates. Colby Itkowitz, The Morning Call's Washington correspondent, and Muhlenberg College political science professor Christopher P. Borick will question the candidates.

Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, works with the newspaper throughout the year to produce The Morning Call-Muhlenberg College Public Opinion Poll.

Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce President Tony Iannelli will present questions to the candidates from the audience, as will Muhlenberg College students. The candidates will also field questions selected from submissions through social media.

"With questions from college students, the chamber, from the public via Facebook and our panel of journalists, we will be offering TV viewers a lively and informative exchange," Erdman said.

Burkett added PBS39 looks forward to bringing the candidates' views in these important races to its viewers.

"We see sharing information to inform voters as an important part of our mission and we look forward to working with all of our partners to do that," Burkett said.

The event is free and open to the public, with tickets available through The Morning Call, PBS39, Muhlenberg College and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door. Doors will close at 7:30 p.m. before each debate.

The debates will be rebroadcast on PBS39 and the Pennsylvania Cable Network on multiple dates before the Nov. 6 election.

Dent, of Allentown, was first elected to Congress in 2004 and has been re-elected three times. Daugherty, of Lowhill Township, is running to take over the 15th District, which includes parts of Berks, Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton counties.

The 17th District was reconfigured to include parts of Northampton County beginning in 2013. The district currently is represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, who lost to Cartwright, of Moosic, Lackawanna County, in the primary election. Cummings lives in Old Forge, Lackawanna County.